Check-punch



3 Sheets-Sheet I. L. M. MILLS.

CHECK PUNCH.

(No Model.)

No. 450,913l lIatenmsd Apr. 21, 18.91.

1 111 EAL! lill i.

llllllllllhll /NVENTVUHI W/TNESSES (No Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2. L. M. MILLS.

CHECK PUNCH.

Patented Ap1.21,1891.

/N VE N 70H Ow Y@ W/ TNESSES QW/m A TTOHNE YS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

1L. M. MILLS.

CHECK PUNCH.

Patented Apr. 21,1891.

A TTOHNE YS NTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LLOYD M. IIILLS, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

CHECK-PUNCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 450,913, dated April21, 1891.

` Application filed April 8, 1890. Serial No. 347,035. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom 'it may concern.-

Be it known that l, LLOYD M. MiLLs, of Grand Rapids, in the county ofKent and State of Michigan, have invented a new and ImprovedCheck-Punch, of which the `following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

The object of the invention is to providea new and improved cheek-punchwhich is simple and durable in construction, very effective inoperation, and easily manipulated to quickly punch or cut the desirednumeral or iigure out of the check, draft, the., so that the severalnumerals or figures stand in perfect alignment.

The invention consists of spiingpressed rods carrying a male die andadapted to slide toward a common center, and a check-holder adapted toslide under the said rods and actuated by the saine.

The invention also consists of certain parts and details andcombinations of the same, as will be fully described hereinafter, andthen pointed ont in the claims. 4

Reference is to be had to the accompanying` drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the iigures.

Figure l is a front view of the improvement with one of the die-rodspressed. Fig. 2 is a plan view o the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional planview of the same on the line .r of Fig. l. Fig. et is a transversesection of the same on the line y 1/ of Fig. l, and Fig. 5 is an endelevation ot' the shifting-rod.

The improved check-punch is provided with a suitably-constructed base A,in which is Iitted to slide laterally a frame B, on the top of which ishinged a clamping-plate C, be tween which and the top oi' the said frameis placed the check or draftto be punched. The clamping-plate C ispressed down onto the paper by a spring C2, the t'ree en d of whichpresses on an upwardly-extending projection C3, formed to projectrearward from the piv ots C' of the said clamping-plate G.

Below the clamping-plate C is arranged a female die-wheel D, providedwith female dies D', formed to indicate numerals, preferably from Oto9,inclusive, and iigures representing dollars,cents, dsc., as is plainlyshown in Fig. 3. The several dies on the die-wheel D are preferablyformed by a series of apertures, as indicated in the said Fig. 3; buteach numeral or figure may be made of one single opening extendingvertically through the die-wheel. The latter is mounted to turn on asuitable stud arranged in the top of the base A.

In the clamping-plate C is arranged a slot C4, through which one of thedies D of the die wheels D can appear at a time, and through this slotis adapted to pass one of a series of die-rods E, fitted to slide' insuitable bearings in a frame-work A', arranged on top of the base A.Each of the die-rods E is provided on its lower end with a male die,representing a numeral or figure corresponding to one of the numeralsand iguresformed in the die-wheel D, so that when one of the rods E ispressed down onto the top of the die-wheel D the corresponding numeralor figure is under the die-rod, as hereinafter more fully described.'lhe several die-rods E are arranged in such a manner that when presseddownward they pass onto a common center.

On the upper end of cach die-rod is arranged a button or key E',containing a numeral or figure corresponding to the male die on thelower end of the rod. The rods E are held in an uppermost or outermostposition by means of coil-springs E2, coiled around the upper ends ofthe rods E, and each pressing with one end against the under side of itsbutton, while the other end rests on the trame A. (Sec Fig i.)

'lach of the rods E is provided with a pin E3, adapted to engage agroove F', formed in a cone-shaped wheel F, provided at. its upper endwith a hub F2, arranged vertically and mounted to turn in suitablebearings in a bridge secured to the top of the frame-work A. Each of thegrooves F' is straight at its upper end and then extends to one side, asis plainly shown in Fig. 4E, so that when the corresponding rod E ispressed and its pin E3 engages the said groove F the said wheel Fremains stationary during the time the pin passes through the upper partof the groove F', while the wheel F turns when the pin E3 passes throughthe lower or laterally-extending part of the slot F'.

The grooves F in the cone-shaped wheel F IOO vary in inclination topermit the respective key when pressed to revolve the said coneshapedwheel a greater or lesser distance, thereby revolving the die-wheel D agreater or lesser distance, so that the pressed die-rod meets thecorresponding die on the die-wheel. One of the die-rods when pressed,however, does not move the wheels. This die-rod has the mark formed onthe die, as shown in Fig. 2, and is directly under the mark on thedie-wheel D, and the groove F for this die-rod is perfectly straight, sothat on depressing` the key the wheels do not revolve. The groove F,acted on by the ueXt die-rod having the numeral l, is only a trifleslanting, suiciently, however, to move wheels F and D until the numerall is in the common center of the die-rods and in the place occupied bythe mark when the machine is in the normal position. The slant of thefollowing grooves F increases correspondingly. When the pressure on thepressed rod E is released, the spring E2 forces the rod upward, so thatthe wheel F is again turned to its former position, and when the rodsare in their uppermost position the several pins E2 are disengaged fromtheir correspondin g grooves.

On the upper end of the hub F2 of the wheel F is secured a gear-wheel G,meshing into a smaller gear-wheel G', secured on a vertically-arran gedshaft G2, mounted to turn in suitable bearings in the base A and theframe-work A. Near the lower end of the shaft G2 is secured a gear-wheelG2, which meshes into a large gear-wheel D2, formed in the periphery ofthe die-wheelD, so that when one of the rods E is pressed down, as abovedescribed, and the wheel F is turned a suitable distance, then a rotarymotion is transmitted from the said wheel by the gear-wheel G to thegear-wheel G', which, on account of being secured to the shaft G2,causes the gear- Wheel G2 to rotate, and the latter, by meshing with thegear-wheel D2, turns the die-wheel D so as to bring the correspondingnumeral or ligure on the die-wheel into line with the lower end of -therespective rod E which has been depressed and carries the same numeralor figure.

On each of the rods E and near their lower ends is secured a pin E4,which extends outward and is adapted to engage the ring H', formed `on alever H, pivoted at H2 to one side ofthe frame-work A. The inner end ofthe lever H is connected with a spring I, held on the frame-work A', andwhich serves to draw theinner end of the lever upward against the stopJ, formed on the frame-work A.

On the outer end of the lever H is fulcrumed a pawl K, adapted to engageone of a series of teeth B, formed on the top of the frame B, as isplainly shown in Fig. l. On the pawl K is formed atransversely-extending pin K, adapted to be engaged by an arm L formedon a rod L, mounted to slide vertically in suitable bearings in theframe-Work A. On the upper end of -this rod L is held a button or key L2for conveniently depressing the said rod. A spring L2 is coiled on therod and serves to hold it in an uppermost position, as is plainlyillustrated in Figs. l and 5.

On one side of the rod L and near its lower end is arranged a pin L4,adapted to engage an arm C4, projecting from one end of theclamping-plate C, so as to open the latter whenever it is desired toplace a check between the clamping-plate and the frame B or when theframe B is shifted laterally, as hereinafter more fully described. Onthe lower end of the rod L is also pivoted an arm M,Y the lower end ofwhich passes through a slot A2, formed in the top of the base A, and onthe extreme lower end of the said arm is formed a transversely-extendingpin N', engaging a slot in the frame B. This arm N serves to return thesaid frame B to its original position after a check has been punched.

On the lever H previously referred to is pivoted a downwardly-extendingarm O, provided on its lower end with a lug O', adapted to engage anotchor recess formed in the under side of the die-wheel D, so as to lock thelatter in place during the time the rods are disengaged from the wheelF, which, by being connected with the said die-wheel D, as previouslydescribed, is also locked in place, so that the several slots F in thesaid wheel are always in line with the pin E3 of the corresponding rodsE. Vhen the lng O engages the notch in the under side of the diewheel D,the latter stands in its first position, as shown in Fig. 3.

The operation is as follows: In order to place the check or draft to bepunched between the clamping-plate C and the frame B, the operator firstpresses the key L2 so as to move the rod L downward to compress thespring L3, at the same time causing the pin L4 to press on the arm C4 ofthe clampingplate G to swing the latter upward against the tension ofthe spring C2. draft can now be placed between the clamping-'plate andthe top of the frame B, so that it is in the proper position to beoperated on by the dies, the place on which the numeral or ligure is tobe punched into the check being at. one end of the slot C4 in line withthe center from which the several rods E radiate. As soon as theoperator releases the pressure on the button L2 the rod L moves ,upwardto its normal position and the clamping-plate C swings downward, so asto clamp the check or draft securely to the frame B. At the same timethe pawlK engages the outermost tooth of the number of teeth B on theframe B. The operator now presses the rod E, having the die the numeralor iigure of which is to be punched into the check. When the desired rodE slides downward, its pin E3, in passing through its corresponding slotF in the wheel F, turns the latter, which, by the connection previouslydescribed, turns the die-wheel D so as to bring the corresponding IIOThe check or female die D in line with the movement of the rod E, thesaid female die being in position before the male die on the lower endof the pressed rod E strikes the draft or check. When two dies act onthe paper, the desired numeral or figure is cut out of the same, and

then the operator releases the pressure on the pressed rod E, so thatits compressed spring E2 forces the rod back to its former position.Then the rod E moves downward to punch the check, its pin E, pressing onthe ring H of the lever H, swings the inner end of the latter downwardagainst the tension of the spring I, at the saine time raising the outerend of the said lever, so that its pawl K passes onto the next tooth B',and when the said i'od E moves upward to its normal position after thecheck has been punched the spring I causes the inner end of the lever IIto swing upward and the outer end to swing downward, so that the pawl Kmoves the frame B to the left the distance of one tooth, whereby thecheck is carried to the lett with the said frame. The operator thenpresses the next rod E provided with a die having the numeral or iigureto be punched into the check next to the numeral or figure previouslypunched. The above-described operatien is then repeated-that is, thesecond rod, by being pressed downward, turns the wheel F and thedie-wheel l) to bring the corresponding numeral or figure of thedie-wheel in line with the second rod to be depressed. lVhen the severalfigures and numerals have been punched in the check, the operatorpresses the button L2, so that the rod L slides downward, and by its pinLAx causes an opening of the clamping-plate C to enable the operator toremove the check. At the same time the downward movement of the rod Lcauses the arm N to abut, with its pin N', against the end of the slotin the frame B to shove the latter to the right until it assumes itsformer normal position. The check-punch is then again ready to punchanother check or draft.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patentl. In a check-punch, the combination of a seriesof die-rods adapted to slide toward and from a common center on adie-wheel mounted to turn below the said rods and actuated from thelatter so as to bring the corresponding die of the die-wheel in linewith the actuating-rod having a corresponding die, substantially asshown and described.

2. In achec-k-punch, the combination, with spring-pressed die-rods, eachprovided on its lower end with a male die7 of a die-wheel provided inits face with female dies corresponding to the male dies on the saiddierods, and intermediate mechanism actuated from the said die-rods andserving to turn the said dic-wheel when one of the die-rods is depressedso as to bring the corresponding female die in line with the male die ofthe pressed die-rod, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a check-punch, the combinatioii,with a frame fitted to slidelaterally, of a springpressed claiiipiiig-plate pivoted on the saidframe and adapted to clamp the check or dral't to the said frame, and aspring-pressed rod for opening the said spring-pressed clamping-plate,substantially as shown and described.

4. In a check-punch, the combination, with a frame fitted to slide andprovided with a clamping-plate to hold the check in place on the saidframe, of a spring-pressed rod for opening the clamping-plate andintermediate mechanism connecting the said springpressed rod with thesaid frame to slide the latter laterally, substantially as shown anddescribed.

5. In acheck-punch, the combination, with a frame and clamping-plateheld on the said. frame and serving to hold the check in place, of aseries of male die-rods fitted to slide and each provided with a pin, aspring-lever adapted to be engaged by the pin of the said die-rods whendepressed, and a pawl held on the said lever and adapted to engageratchetteeth on the said frame to shift the latter laterally,substantially as shown and described.

6. In a check-punch, the combination, with a dic-wheel mounted to turnand provided on its under side with a notch, of a springpressed leverprovided with an arm havinga lug adapted to engage the said notch, and aseries ot' die-rods Iitted to slide and each provided with a pin adaptedto engage the saidlever, so as to unlock the said lug from the notch inthe die-wheel, substantially as shown and described.

7. In a clieck-puncli,the combination, with die-rods radiating from acommon center, of a conical wheel provided with grooves adapted to beengaged by pins on the said die-rods substantiallyas shown anddescribed.

8. In a check-punch, the combination, with a seiies of die-rodsradiating from a common center and a die-wheel mounted to turn, the saidcommon center of the die-rods being at or near the face of the saiddiewheel,ot` a conical wheel provided with cam-grooves adapted t0 beengaged by pins on the said die-rods, and intermediate mechanism forconnecting the said conical wheel with the said die-wheel to turn bethsimultaneously, substantially as shown and described.

LLOYD M. MILLS.

Witnesses:

M. S. GooDnNow, JOHN L. BENJAMIN.

TOO

